For Our Rainbow Future 
 Strengthening Networking and Leadership Skills of young LGBTIQ+ activists in Western Balkans, France and Germany
 
ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey is happy to invite you to apply to be a part of “For Our Rainbow Future” programme. This program focuses on building capacities of young LGBTIQ+ activists from France, Germany, and the Western Balkans region, to become leaders of the LGBTIQ+ movement in their countries and beyond. ERA is implementing this program in cooperation with the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany (LSVD) and MAG – Young LGBT in France, with financial support from the Franco- German Youth Office (FGYO) and Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
 
This programme is based on the needs of young LGBTIQ+ activists, which often don’t have the opportunity to learn how to become effective advocates and leaders and be prepared to work towards advancing rights of LGBTIQ+ persons. In order to improve this situation and empower young LGBTIQ+ activists, this programme will consist of three week-long capacity building trainings in Germany, France, and Albania, which will be attended by 24 young LGBTIQ+ activists coming from Germany, France, and the Western Balkans region. The trainings will be conducted in a participatory and interactive manner, combining different methodologies, such as presentations, workshops, group work, performance, and theater, etc.
 
Goals of this programme are to:

Strengthen leadership, self-management, communication and activism skills of young LGBTIQ* leaders from France, Germany and the Western Balkans;
Increase networking, inter-cultural and exchange of experiences between LGBTIQ+ youth leaders from France, Germany and the Western Balkans;
Inspire creativity and other initiatives among young LGBTIQ+ young leaders from France, Germany and the Western Balkans;
Encourage personal story-telling as a successful tool to counteract negative messages about young LGBTI people;
Encourage involvement and engagement of LGBTIQ+ youth with other peace and relationship building regional and international networks such as Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and others;

 
Trainings will be held in three interlinked phases:

23-28 July 2019 in Berlin, Germany (arrivals on 23 and returning/departures on 28), which also includes attendance at the Berlin Pride Parade (Christopher Street Day Parade)  
02-07 November 2019 in Tirana, Albania (arrivals on 02 and returning/departures on 07) with the possibility of attending ERA annual conference on 8-9 November (returning/departures on 10)
16-21 June 2020 in Paris, France (arrivals on 16 and returning/departures on 21), which also includes attendance at the Paris Pride Parade and the Grand Ball of the Pride

 
Participants must be:
Aged 18-30 years;

Come from the Western Balkans (Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Play a role within an LGBTIQ+ organization in the region, and be endorsed by this organization to participate in this program;
Committed to follow-up on the training by implementing obtained knowledge and skills;
Able to communicate effectively in English;
Able to commit to participating in all three phases of training sessions (Berlin, Tirana, Paris).
The number of participants is limited and the selection process will take into account country representation, representation of different identities within the LGBTI+ spectrum and the quality of the application.

 
Application process:
– Please fill in the application form directly on this link. 
– The deadline for submitting your on-line application is 27 May 24:00 CET
– For any questions or inquiries please send an Email at office@lgbti-era.org